Basalirwa’s bodyguard dies in hospital after being shot

A member of Bugiri Municipality MP contestant, Asuman Basalirwa’s security detail has died at Bugiri Hospital.

Ramanthan Walyendo, 30, succumbed to gunshot wounds he sustained on Thursday during a campaign rally held along Saza Road in Bugiri municipality.

Mr Basalirwa is the Jeema party candidate in the Bugiri municipality MP elections slated for July 27.

The deceased who doubled as a Boda Boda rider at Namutumba Stage, was on Thursday shot around 4:30pm as police battled a group of Basalirwa’s supporters who wanted to forcefully hold a rally at Busoga University playgrounds.

Walyendo who was hit in the chest by a stray bullet as he tried to escape from the rowdy supporters who were reportedly pelting stones at police, was immediately rushed to First Line Medical Centre within the municipality, before transferred to Bugiri Hospital in critical condition.

However, a health worker at the hospital who preferred anonymity, said he died as a result of over bleeding.

“His life would have been saved if he was rushed to the hospital in time. He was admitted while bleeding and straight away taken in the Intensive Care Unit but unfortunately passed on,” the health worker said.

Mr Basalirwa has promised to follow up the matter and ensure the police officer who shot his supporter is arrested and arraigned in Court.

In the aftermath of the fatal shooting, Basalirwa who was addressing a rally at Saza Road at about 5:30pm on Thursday, said he narrowly survived being shot since ‘he was standing next to the deceased’.

Mr Basalirwa further warned police against indulgence in violence, adding that Ugandans have freedom of movement.

The Busoga East police spokesman, James Mubi, said investigations into the matter are underway, adding that police will prosecute the police officer once it’s proved that he acted out of negligence.

Mr Mubi, however, blamed Basalirwa’s supporters for pelting stones at (police) officers who were assigned to ensure that no rally is held at Busoga Universityplaygrounds following previous cases of vandalism of windows as a result of holding rallies inside.